Brisbane are through to a semi-final against GWS thanks to a comfortable win over Carlton, who didn't show up for their elimination final until late into the second term.

The Blues were the first finals in 50 years team to go without an opening quarter score, with the Lions booting the first nine goals and 60 points of the contest.

These are the key points from Brisbane's elimination final win:

  • Blues concede first 60 points of the game
  • Brisbane mount immense pressure across all thirds of the field to ignite dominant start
  • Dayne Zorko the architect in opening half to set the tone
  • Lions lose Jack Payne to a suspected knee injury
  • Carlton backman Nic Newman reported for hit on Lachie Neale

>>ย STAT LEADERS, TEAM METRICS, LINEUPS, HISTORY AND MORE

 2024-09-07T09:30:00Z 
 
 
 
Gabba
BL   
99
FT
71
   CARL
    #AFLLionsBlues
MATCH CENTRE ▶︎   

Here's how the game unfolded...

4th Quarter

A scoreline that somewhat flatters Carlton, who gave up the first 60 goals of the game before slowly clawing back some respect in the second half.

Overall, a truly ugly exit for Michael Voss' side, but credit where it is due to Brisbane, who were dominant from the opening bounce and rightfully progress.

Full Time
Brisbane: 14. 15. 99
Carlton: 11. 5. 71

1:07:ย Harry McKay ducks around Hipwood to take an uncontested mark, only for his opponent to knock him to the ground and be penalised with a 50. McKay walks into the square and brings the Lions' lead down to 28 points.

2:51:ย Pittonet makes it two goals in 30 seconds, this time finding space over his opponent 35m from goal on a similar angle.

3:19:ย De Koning's clearance goes to the hot spot and Lester is pinged for holding Pittonet. The Blues big man goes back and slots it.

3:51:ย A kick toward the goal line is stopped short by Blues defenders before Ah Chee throws a foot at it. He misses but it trickles to Cameron who taps it over the line.

6:00:ย An off-ball arm from Nic Newman on Lachie Neale has led to another chance on goal for the Lions, but the two-time Brownlow winner can't capitalise on a set-shot from distance, managing just the behind. Newman was reported for the incident.

6:14:ย Morris gets in on the late party with a big grab of his own. He slots a set shot from 25m, 45-degree angle to take the game out to 41 points.

8:05:ย A truly tremendous moment despite the air having been taken out of the game, with the returning Sam Docherty dobbing a goal on the run in his return game.

8:23:ย Rayner takes another contested grab to add to a good night for the former Pick 1 selection. He eases into his set shot and nabs his third goal for the night.

9:38:ย Lohmann just about ices it with a snap set-shot in the right forward pocket after a nice grab over Williams.

13:20:ย The Blues get another as Cripps weaves finds Acres just inside the arc on a 45-degree angle. His set shot looks good off the boot and stays straight. Lions' lead down to 29.

15:01:ย Neale, Hipwood, Daniher and Cameron link up along the wing before the latter finds Rayner in the pocket. His bending shot doesn't cut enough and it goes across the face for a point.

16:49:ย First blood to the Bloods, with McKay doubling his tally via a set shot from just inside the 50m metre arc after Carlton worked it through the corridor.

17:50:ย The opening chance of the last quarter is pulled wide by Zac Bailey, who ran towards goal and couldn't capitalise from 35m out.

3rd Quarter

A bizarre term given what we saw in the opening half, with the Lions squandering multiple easy chances right in front of goal as the Blues built on momentum.

Carlton started the second half strongly to bring up five unanswered goals and keep the game alive, but the Lions eventually snapped their streak with their sole goal for the quarter.

It's not over, but it remains a mighty uphill to overcome for Michael Voss' men.

Three-Quarter Time
Brisbane: 10. 12. 72
Carlton:ย 5. 2. 32

2:40:ย The Lions break away from the wing through a chain of handballs that gives them an extra man forward of the ball. Morris chips one to Daniher in the pocket, with the Lions spearhead going back on his mark before a bending shot falls to the short side for a behind.

9:33:ย This time Brisbane make it count, with a chain of passes ending with Ah Chee out the back for a smile kick on the goal line.

10:45:ย Another easy chance squandered by the Lions as Lohmann and Bailey both have time to put one home and they stuff it up for a rushed behind.

11:33:ย Oh boy. Morris has a chance to break the Blues' streak with a shot from point-blank range and he hits the post!

14:12: Make that five in a row, with the centre clearance coming out through the Blues and Newman's kick hitting up McKay on the lead 40m from goal. The Coleman Medal winner shakes off earlier shooting concerns and nails this one.

15:11:ย Four on the trot for the Blues, with Walsh's handball finding Hollands in space. He struts towards goal and bends one through the big sticks to bring Brisbane's buffer down to 37 points.

16:23:ย The Blues start the second half how the end the first, with George Hewett adding a third goal for the away side via a 45m set shot after getting on the end of a precise pass from Young. Surely they couldn't from here?

Brisbane defender Jack Payne subbed out of elimination final with injury

SUB MADE: Jack Payne (knee) has been subbed out with a knee concern. Conor McKenna comes into the match.

2nd Quarter

A near-perfect first half from the Lions, who are dominating almost every facet of the game. Brisbane have out-tackled the Blues 37-29 despite having 22 more touches. 10 of those tackles have come in the Lions' forward 50.

The Blues are winning the stoppage clearance and contested possession counts, but they've hardly had a look on goal. The Lions have walked out of the centre clearance nine times from a possible 11.

Dayne Zorko is again the architect down back, while Hugh McCluggage is feeding off Oscar McInerney's ruck dominance.

Half-Time
Brisbane: 9. 7. 61
Carlton: 2. 1. 13

0:27: McKay outmarks three Lions to get on the end of De Koning's long kick forward. A straight-forward set shot at a crucial time is wasted by the Blues forward, who shanks it to the left.

INJURY NOTE:ย Carlton ruckman Marc Pittonet has come from the field after slowing getting to his feet following a marking contest. The Blues have already made their sub change.

2:14:ย Another for Carlton before the main break. This time it's Fantasia who is perfectly positioned at the front of a marking contest and his quick snap doubles the Blues' score.

3:45:ย The Blues FINALLY get one, and it's through their captain, who got the hands from a crumbling Durdin at the hot spot. No celebration from a fairly dejected crop of Carlton players.

9:12: A bold kick into the corridor by Hollands is claimed by Zorko, who runs through the middle and finds Bailey. He goes back and kicks another for the Lions from the pocket.

10:14:ย Rayner flies for a mark from a centre Morris kick, with the Lions gun using Cerra as a step ladder 20m from goal. He slots the Lions' eighth major and it's getting really messy for the Blues.

INJURY NOTE:ย Lions defender Jack Payne came from the ground following a marking contest. Limped off with a suspected knee injury while also bleeding from the face.

SUB MADE:ย Just 11 minutes into the second quarter, Carlton have taken Matt Kennedy (tactical) out of the game. Sub Tom De Koning has been deployed into the match.

12:20:ย The Lions go end-to-end through the corridor and Ah Chee is found straight in front 40m from goal. He cooly goes back onto his mark and slots it with ease.

15:30: Another mark inside 50 for the Lions ahead of their first shot on goal, with Daniher finding Hipwdood atop the 50m arc. Hipwood's kick falls short and a low clearing kick from Docherty lands with Cameron, which quickly snaps and snaps truly for a goal.

17:46:ย ย Finally a chance for the Blues, with Matt Kennedy marking the ball 50m out on the boundary. He gives a handball off to the left-footed Harry McKay who's running on a nice arc, but his kick is shanked to the right and out of bounds on the full.

1st Quarter

A scoreless opening term for the Blues thanks to immense pressure from the Lions from the opening bounce. Harris Andrews has been commanding in defence, while the Lions' midfielders and forwards are giving up nothing off the ball.

On the attacking end, Brisbane are finding space through a high work rate and have been dominant in the air also, with five marks inside 50 already from 18 entries (Blues 0 from 8).

Quarter Time:
Brisbane: 5. 5. 35
Carlton: 0. 0. 0

1:42: Several players are packed under a high ball heading into the Lions' forward 50 and it's the young Morris who comes out on top. He goes back 30m from goal on a 45-degree angle and nails it.

2:44:ย A chance for Cameron this time, who is unmarked just inside 50. His set shot isn't as fortunate, amassing just the behind. Brisbane by 29.

5:35:ย Another for Joe and it's three goals in 70 seconds for the Lions just like that. Hipwood looked up and found an open Daniher after taking a big contested grab from the centre clearance.

6:00: The Lions' front-half pressure is too much for the Blues, with a Williams handball going straight to Lohmann. The young Lion takes a couple of steps before drilling one from 40m out.

6:45: Daniher gets on the end of a well-placed Ashcroft kick just inside 50, less than 45-degree angle. Big Joe makes it look easy, moving onto his left and kicking it right through the middle from range.

11:30: After 12 minutes we have a goal, with Rayner slotting the opening major with a long-range shot off his mark. He took possession 60m from goal and wheeled back with the goal square vacant. A friendly bounce helped and the Lions' lead grows to nine.

16:03:ย Another chance for the home side, with Wilmot on the end of a handball atop the 50m arc, but his long-range attempt goes to the left for another behind.

16:23 (mins remaining):ย Almost the perfect start for the Lions and their co-captain Lachie Neale, who explored through a stoppage in the pocket but could only manage a point, with his shot striking the goal post.

Pre-Match

Both teams go into the game as named, with Conor McKenna (Brisbane) and Tom De Koning (Carlton) named as the subs.

It's an intriguing contest, with the last time these two met coming in Opening Round when Carlton snatched a one-point win at the Gabba. That was Sam Docherty's most recent performance for the Blues, with the club's ex-captain suffering an ACL injury in the win. He returns tonight, just 183 days later.

Before then? Last year's preliminary final, with Brisbane claiming a come-from-behind victory to book their place in the grand final and ends the Blues' run.